1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Zoot Suit. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
We are in Los Angeles California during the 1940's. The first day of the play is June 3rd, 1943. We have a cast that is comprised of mostly chicano and latino people. We also have the police officers, service men, their girlfriends, their family and most importantly we have Henry (Hank) Reyna. Henry is our main character. We also have El Pachuco who is a dream character that only Henry interacts with. The characters find themselves in the midst of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trials.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
During this time the Zoot suit riots have occurred and there has been some violence. The newspapers are making the group of guys arrested out to be dangerous criminals even though they have not been convicted of anything yet. The main intrusion is when Henry and his friends are arrested at a dance they are attending.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
Luis Valdez chose this time because he wanted to write a story about the riots and about the sleepy lagoon murder trial. There was a lot of mishandling by the court system and the people on trial were not given a fair trial. I think Luis Valdez used this to his advantage to make this a statement piece to talk about the ever increasing issue of proper representation and improper treatment as a minority in this country.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will Henry Reyna get off? Will Henry change his life? Will he make it to his posting? Will there be resolution within the community? Will the violence end? Will they find the actual murderer?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Henry Reyna wants to be free and wants to be himself. He is sick of being stereotyped and sick of being forced into a role. He has a relationship with "El Pachuco" who is not a real person but more like a made up character in Henry's head. We see their relationship change over time and it seems to be that this dream figure is what Henry wants himself to be like but at the same time this figure also represents everything that he does not want to be like. Therefore Ball's ideas of "Me against myself" and "Me against another individual" are starting to overlap here. Henry also just wants to be let free simply. He has been locked up for a crime he did not commit and he wants to be released. This would also be an example of "Me against fate." Will he make it out? It is up to the jury and judge. This time he has no control over the situation.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
There are many theatrical moments. I would say the supposed death of El Pachuco. When we think he is gone but then he shows back up. The fight with the other gang and also the fight at sleepy lagoon. Another big event was when the celebrities from Hollywood got involved to get the boys out of prison even under a convicted title. There were many theatrical moments. Zoot suit is a musical and therefore has to be over theatrical. Like discussed in class it is a complete different approach to theater. It tends to be more excessive.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The Zoot suit itself is an image because it really is the symbol of everything that is happening. It is the symbol of this culture at the time. It is the target used to designate who can be beaten up by the service men. It is a sense of identity for those that wear it and it is also a dividing aspect between the different cultures. El Pachuco was an image as well because he was not real. He was definitely the most interesting character because he was so complex. He represented the zoot suit "Gang" image. This was important because it showed the contrast of that to Henry who the papers and everyone else were trying to push into that image. The young white sailor, Swabbie, and his Asian american girlfriend. Though there were tensions between the service men and the Chicanos there were still some service men who came to hangout with them. Though when things got tense they were given a free pass and the chicanos were not. I found this interesting because that division between the chicanos and the whites were there but not everyone fell into that setting. Swabbie did end up leaving when they got in trouble. Though there was prejudice against all groups of people his asian american girlfriend did not get any issues presented to her unlike the zoot suiters. This is interesting and also a subliminal message because a big issue of the zoot suit riots was because people thought the zoot suiters were being influenced by the Japanese, who were the enemies in this war at the time.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
There are many themes in Zoot suit: Family, romance, love, fashion, racism, prejudice, military, war, purity, american values, traditionalism, death, dishonor, judicial systems, etc.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
There are family signs everywhere. We meet all of Henry's family in the play. His mom, dad, sister, brother, girlfriend, mistress, friends etc. The play shows the importance of family to chicano culture and life. Also, Henry and his siblings were at the fight at sleepy lagoon and therefore were all involved. When Henry gets arrested his parents are the ones who call the lawyer and ask for help. The theme of family is throughout the entirety of the play.
We are in Los Angeles California during the 1940's. The first day of the play is June 3rd, 1943. We have a cast that is comprised of mostly chicano and latino people. We also have the police officers, service men, their girlfriends, their family and most importantly we have Henry (Hank) Reyna. Henry is our main character. We also have El Pachuco who is a dream character that only Henry interacts with. The characters find themselves in the midst of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trials.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
During this time the Zoot suit riots have occurred and there has been some violence. The newspapers are making the group of guys arrested out to be dangerous criminals even though they have not been convicted of anything yet. The main intrusion is when Henry and his friends are arrested at a dance they are attending.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
Luis Valdez chose this time because he wanted to write a story about the riots and about the sleepy lagoon murder trial. There was a lot of mishandling by the court system and the people on trial were not given a fair trial. I think Luis Valdez used this to his advantage to make this a statement piece to talk about the ever increasing issue of proper representation and improper treatment as a minority in this country.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will Henry Reyna get off?
Will Henry change his life?
Will he make it to his posting?
Will there be resolution within the community?
Will the violence end?
Will they find the actual murderer?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Henry Reyna wants to be free and wants to be himself. He is sick of being stereotyped and sick of being forced into a role. He has a relationship with "El Pachuco" who is not a real person but more like a made up character in Henry's head. We see their relationship change over time and it seems to be that this dream figure is what Henry wants himself to be like but at the same time this figure also represents everything that he does not want to be like. Therefore Ball's ideas of "Me against myself" and "Me against another individual" are starting to overlap here. Henry also just wants to be let free simply. He has been locked up for a crime he did not commit and he wants to be released. This would also be an example of "Me against fate." Will he make it out? It is up to the jury and judge. This time he has no control over the situation.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
There are many theatrical moments. I would say the supposed death of El Pachuco. When we think he is gone but then he shows back up. The fight with the other gang and also the fight at sleepy lagoon. Another big event was when the celebrities from Hollywood got involved to get the boys out of prison even under a convicted title. There were many theatrical moments. Zoot suit is a musical and therefore has to be over theatrical. Like discussed in class it is a complete different approach to theater. It tends to be more excessive.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The Zoot suit itself is an image because it really is the symbol of everything that is happening. It is the symbol of this culture at the time. It is the target used to designate who can be beaten up by the service men. It is a sense of identity for those that wear it and it is also a dividing aspect between the different cultures.
El Pachuco was an image as well because he was not real. He was definitely the most interesting character because he was so complex. He represented the zoot suit "Gang" image. This was important because it showed the contrast of that to Henry who the papers and everyone else were trying to push into that image.
The young white sailor, Swabbie, and his Asian american girlfriend. Though there were tensions between the service men and the Chicanos there were still some service men who came to hangout with them. Though when things got tense they were given a free pass and the chicanos were not. I found this interesting because that division between the chicanos and the whites were there but not everyone fell into that setting. Swabbie did end up leaving when they got in trouble. Though there was prejudice against all groups of people his asian american girlfriend did not get any issues presented to her unlike the zoot suiters. This is interesting and also a subliminal message because a big issue of the zoot suit riots was because people thought the zoot suiters were being influenced by the Japanese, who were the enemies in this war at the time.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
There are many themes in Zoot suit:
Family, romance, love, fashion, racism, prejudice, military, war, purity, american values, traditionalism, death, dishonor, judicial systems, etc.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
There are family signs everywhere. We meet all of Henry's family in the play. His mom, dad, sister, brother, girlfriend, mistress, friends etc. The play shows the importance of family to chicano culture and life. Also, Henry and his siblings were at the fight at sleepy lagoon and therefore were all involved. When Henry gets arrested his parents are the ones who call the lawyer and ask for help. The theme of family is throughout the entirety of the play.